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Stockton firefighters urge council to remove sunset on longevity pay in contract talks
Summary
Representatives of Stockton Professional Firefighters Local 456 urged the council to direct negotiators to remove a one‑year sunset clause from a proposed longevity pay benefit, saying the clause undermines recruitment and retention and that members are leaving for higher pay elsewhere.
Leaders of Stockton Professional Firefighters Local 456 used public comment at the Aug. 12 Stockton City Council meeting to press city negotiators to change a proposed memorandum of understanding for management‑level firefighters.
Matt Nirum, a labor representative, said the fire management unit voted to reject a verbal conceptual agreement because the city’s proposal limited longevity pay to a single year rather than making it ongoing. Nirum asked the council to “direct the city's negotiating team to remove the sunset clause and include the longevity benefit in the MOU.”
Colt Lee, vice president of Local 456, and other department members described a retention crisis: Lee said firefighters have been without a contract for more than 40 days and members are being recruited by other agencies offering higher salary and better benefits. Devin Robeson, Local 456 president, said the department had already lost several members in the last week and warned of more departures if the contract does not show a sustained commitment to employees.
Council did not take direct action on contracts at the meeting; labor representatives requested that councilors give direction to the negotiating team. No formal amendment or vote on an MOU was recorded during the Aug. 12 session.
